10 h. ago Hundreds of mainland visitors in Hong Kong enjoy July 1 celebrations, deals

Hundreds of mainland visitors have made the most of Hong Kong’s holiday marking the city’s return to Chinese rule by flocking to popular tourist sites and enjoying discounts, free museum visits, ferry and tram rides, and cheap tickets at several major attractions. Undeterred by the cloudy and rainy weather on Tuesday, they gathered at popular locations across the city, including Central, Causeway Bay, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui, with many planning to spend good money on the 3,800 restaurants...

Politics

10 h. ago Hundreds of mainland visitors enjoy July 1 celebrations and deals in Hong Kong

Hundreds of mainland Chinese visitors have made the most of Hong Kong’s holiday marking the city’s handover by flocking to popular tourist sites and enjoying discounts, free museum visits, ferry and tram rides, and cheap tickets at several major attractions. Undeterred by the cloudy and rainy weather on Tuesday, they gathered at popular locations across the city, including Central, Causeway Bay, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui, with many planning to spend at the 3,800 restaurants offering...

Politics

16 h. ago Certain ferry services in Hong Kong to be suspended during Chinese naval fleet visit

Hongkongers will have to make changes to their transport plans during the visit of a naval fleet led by the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong from Thursday as certain ferry services will be temporarily suspended, with authorities also implementing restrictions in some flying zones. The Transport Department on Monday evening announced the adjustments, with nine outlying island licensed ferry service routes operating on the western fairway to be suspended gradually between about 7.20am and 9.50am...

Politics

18 h. ago Beijing sanctions Manila’s South China Sea legal claim architect Francis Tolentino

China has announced sanctions on former Philippine Senate leader Francis Tolentino, a key ally of the Southeast Asian country’s President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on South China Sea issues. Beijing accused Tolentino of “egregious conduct on China-related issues” and will bar the former Philippine lawmaker – whose term ended yesterday – from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. “For some time now, individual anti-China politicians in the Philippines...

Events

18 h. ago Beijing sanctions South China Sea legal claim architect Francis Tolentino

China has sanctioned the former Senate leader of the Philippines Francis Tolentino, a key ally of the Southeast Asian country’s President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on South China Sea issues. Beijing accused Tolentino of “egregious conduct on China-related issues” and will bar the former Philippine lawmaker – whose term ended on Monday – from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. “For some time now, individual anti-China politicians in the Philippines...

Events

20 h. ago ‘I’d rather be an arduous reformer than complacent idler’: Hong Kong’s John Lee

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong marks the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events start with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will...

Politics

20 h. ago Hongkongers, visitors enjoy discounts, freebies as city marks July 1 anniversary

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong marks the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events started with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu...

Politics

20 h. ago Hongkongers, visitors enjoy discounts, freebies as city marks July 1 anniversary – as it happened

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong marked the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events started with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu...

Politics

41 h. ago First tickets for Hongkongers to see Chinese aircraft carrier gone in 45 seconds

The first batch of tickets to get an inside view of a Chinese aircraft carrier, the Shandong, docking in Hong Kong from July 3 to 7, has been snapped up in less than a minute. The Post found the tickets were picked up within 45 seconds after they were released on WeChat on Monday. A total of 10,000 tickets, with 2,000 designated for the aircraft carrier and 8,000 for two other vessels – the Zhangjian missile destroyer and the Yuncheng missile frigate – are up for grabs, with real-name...

Transport

41 h. ago Tickets to visit Chinese aircraft carrier in Hong Kong gone in under a minute

The first and second batches of tickets to board the Shandong aircraft carrier during its port call to Hong Kong from July 3 to 7 have been snapped up in less than a minute. The Post found the tickets for the first batch were gone within 45 seconds after they were released on WeChat on Monday. When the second batch was released at 3pm, the reservation system showed no tickets for the Shandong remained, while those for the Zhanjiang and Yuncheng vessels were snapped up within 30 seconds. A total...

Transport

4 d. ago Hungry for savings? Hong Kong restaurants, shops offer July 1 anniversary deals

Hong Kong consumers can expect to enjoy deals and discounts at more than 8,800 stores and restaurants as part of celebrations to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule on July 1, amid a sluggish economy. The Hong Kong Catering Industry Association said more than 3,800 food and beverage establishments would provide discounts on the occasion, while the city’s Retail Management Association said 5,000 stores would kick off a two-month shopping festival on the same...

Economics

5 d. ago Chinese courier SF to raise US$752 million via Hong Kong shares, bonds

SF Holding, China’s largest courier, announced plans on Thursday to raise more than HK$5.9 billion (US$752 million) through a new share placement on the Hong Kong exchange and the issuance of convertible bonds. Proceeds from the HK$2.9505 billion equity placement and HK$2.95 billion in zero-coupon convertible bonds would be used for the firm’s international and cross-border logistics capabilities, research and development of advanced technologies and digital solutions, capital structure, and...

Economics

8 d. ago China Market Update: It’s The End Of The World, Hong Kong & Chinese Stocks Feel Fine

China Market Update: It’s The End Of The World, Hong Kong & Chinese Stocks Feel Fine  Forbes

Politics

9 d. ago Move over Labubu – Fugglers look to take crown from Hong Kong

Competition for plush toys is heating up, with British monster-like characters, Fugglers, emerging from the shadows following the recent runaway success of Labubu, a collectible doll created by a Hong Kong designer. Fugglers, which recently appeared on the popular Chinese social media platform RedNote, stretch the “ugly-cute” moniker to the extremes. They are threatening to steal the limelight from Labubu, designed by Hong Kong-born Lung Ka-sing and manufactured by Beijing-based Pop Mart. Labubu...

Politics

1 week ago Kyoto in Hong Kong? The towns drawing mainlanders with their ‘Japanese’ charms

A waterfront town in northwestern Hong Kong has improbably become a hit with mainland Chinese tourists who say its charming neighbourhoods remind them of picturesque cities in Japan, such as Sapporo. Users of Chinese social media platform RedNote have been sharing various tips on how travellers can capture pictures of the above-ground Light Rail trains running through Tuen Mun and create scenes that could double for a Hokkaido cityscape. Vicky Chong Ting-ting, a 27-year-old tourist from mainland...

Politics

1 week ago Taiwan pursues homegrown Chinese spies as Beijing intensifies espionage

Taiwan pursues homegrown Chinese spies as Beijing intensifies espionage  Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

Politics

1 week ago Almost 800 Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran, Beijing says

Almost 800 Chinese citizens evacuated from Iran, Beijing says  Hong Kong Free Press

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong to be Chinese companies’ launch pad in Shanghai pact

Mainland Chinese companies will use Hong Kong’s capital market as the launch pad for their global growth, according to an action plan signed on Wednesday with Shanghai to connect the premier onshore commercial city with the nation’s offshore financial hub. The two cities will expand the decade-old connect programme linking the stock markets of Shanghai and Hong Kong with more equities, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and gold, as well as working on cross-border settlements and uses of the...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Uncertain future’ for US, Hong Kong MTR’s allure: 5 weekend reads

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Setting sun’: on Trump’s parade day, Chinese media see a US in decline 2. Why are mainland Chinese tourists posing in front of MTR stations in Hong Kong? 3. China’s extreme heat shield breaks thermal limit on hypersonic flight 4. After the ceasefire, leaders of India and Pakistan seek cover...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong’s rent surge hits mainland students and professionals

Wang Ruoshuo, a 21-year-old student from Hefei, the capital of central Anhui province, is searching for a flat in Hung Hom in southern Kowloon, which is close to her university and the company where she interns. As a first-time renter, however, she has been taken aback by the high prices. Wang and her friends are looking for a two-bedroom unit, budgeting about HK$7,000 to HK$8,000 (US$892 to US$1,019) per person. “But when we began our search, we found that properties meeting our criteria would...

Society